NFL free agency tracker: Mac Jones’ trade to the Jaguars is about to be finalized by the Patriots
Quarterback Mac Jones will not be a part of the New England Patriots in their new era.
According to a source involved with the talks on Sunday, the Patriots plan to deal Jones—a 2021 first-round draft pick who has struggled the last two seasons—to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The change won’t take effect until Wednesday.
Jones is from Jacksonville, and the Jaguars are anticipated to offer the Patriots a late-round selection pick in exchange for him. Trevor Lawrence, the starter for the Jaguars, is replaced by Jones.
In the 2021 draft, 14 choices after the Jaguars selected Lawrence first overall from Clemson, the Patriots selected Jones out of Alabama with the 15th overall pick.
Jones helped the Patriots make it to the AFC playoffs and was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie after taking over as the starting quarterback right away. But after that, everything fell apart. Uncertainty on the offensive coaching staff of the Patriots and a dearth of playmakers surrounding him contributed to Jones’ declining performance. Over the previous two seasons, he tallied 24 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions; however, Bailey Zappe won the starting job the previous season.
After finishing 4-13 in the previous season, the Patriots parted ways with their six-time Super Bowl champion coach, Bill Belichick. They promptly elevated Jerod Mayo from linebackers coach to head coach by implementing a succession plan stipulated in his contract. Their director of scouting, Eliot Wolf, was placed in control of their front office. They are now starting to restructure their roster.
It is widely anticipated that they would select a quarterback, possibly LSU’s Jayden Daniels or North Carolina’s Drake Maye, with their third-round selection in the upcoming draft. Along with Zappe and their maybe highly valued rookie quarterback, they might also sign an experienced quarterback.
Teams can arrange deals with free agents from other teams during the NFL’s free agent negotiation period, which starts on Monday. On Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the new league season, those agreements as well as transactions, may become official.
